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Petition update

CAN WE PROTECT WOMEN AND GIRLS?

Matt Smiley

Los Angeles, CA

Nov 5, 2015 — The elections are over. Now is the time for change. I wanted thank all our supporters for your signatures. Your actions have resulted in 3 party leaders acknowledging our petition and responding favourably.

Please join me in thanking our newly elected Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, Tom Mulcair and Elizabeth May for their responses to this petition for a Federal Act to End Violence Against Aboriginal Women in Canada. It is a huge leap forward to know that we now have a government in place that will make efforts to prevent violence against women and that the issue is on their ‘radar’.

We cannot stop here. We must continue to push forward to ensure the government keeps the promises they made during the elections. I want to know that promises will be followed through with actions. You can be certain that in the coming weeks, various organizations will be pushing for the Liberal government to follow through with their commitment to launching the national inquiry.

Mary Teegee and I are pushing for a law to ensure there are much needed resources to fund the recommendations and action items that will surely come from the national inquiry. We are asking for legislation to make protecting aboriginal women and girls the law in this country. In the spirit of truth and reconciliation - there is new hope in our country to forge a new strong and positive relationship with the Government of Canada - the Federal Act would be a step toward rebuilding a Canada we will all be proud to be a part of.

The Act will very much mirror the Office of Violence Against Women Act Vice-President Joe Biden and President Barack Obama have committed to strengthening in the United States. Within their Act, police officers and prosecutors get special training on domestic violence and more shelters are opening throughout the country. It is important for all Canadians to be aware of how serious this problem is and how we can all work together to prevent further acts of violence against women, especially aboriginal women and girls, who are disproportionately targeted.

These acts of violence affect much more than just the victims. They assault our families and communities throughout the country. We must do more to hold ourselves accountable for the lives we lose on our watch.

The process of creating the Act will take some time, but we are 100% committed to making it happen. We owe it to our women and girls.